A
reminder for today
The Bible, in Daniel 3, records the story of the burning
fiery furnace:
The three young men stood looking at the very site where
they were to be put to death. The edict had gone out—they were to be thrown,
alive and bound, into a furnace heated to seven times its usual fervor.
Everyone watching understood: This was an execution. This was what happened
when you disobeyed the king.
Just moments ago, the three men had been given the chance
to circumvent this ugly fate. With little more than a few motions on their
part, they could have saved their own lives. But they refused. Why?
The king had previously set up a 90-foot-high golden
statue. At various times throughout the day, which were to be prompted by
music, he commanded that his people fall down and worship this statue. Out of
the entire nation, we are given the names of only three men who had the courage
to stand against this royal decree. And for that courage, Shadrach, Meshach and
Abed-Nego were going to die.
When King Nebuchadnezzar became aware of their
insubordination, he summoned the rebels and gave them an ultimatum: Worship the
statue or be thrown into a fiery furnace. Their response is preserved for us in
Daniel 3:16-18. "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the
king, 'O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that
is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery
furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be
known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the
gold image which you have set up.'"
The faith of these three men in God allowed them to stand
up to the world's most powerful man and refuse to follow his blasphemous orders.
They were then thrown into the furnace and miraculously delivered unharmed by
God. But perhaps the most amazing thing about their story is their unwavering
dedication to God in the face of an unknown outcome. Their faith was strong
enough to accept giving their lives!
How can we have that faith?
Have an awesome day dear friend of Jesus
Cheers
